Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett don’t have a ton in common. However, they are both of similar standing in terms of touchdown passes this season. That does not reflect well on the second-year Steelers quarterback or his team’s offense— at all. In fact, it is rather ugly.
Flacco is 38 years old. Pickett is 25.
Flacco has 9.63-inch hands. Pickett has 8.63-inch hands.
Flacco plays for Cleveland. Pickett plays for Cleveland’s bitter rival, Pittsburgh.
Flacco has played eight quarters of football this season. Pickett has played 46 quarters.
Sunday marked Flacco’s second game with the Browns after being signed to the practice squad at the end of November. He became the oldest quarterback in NFL history to throw a touchdown pass during his first start of his 16th year in the league last weekend.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Pickett has not thrown a touchdown pass since Week 8. He has gone five-straight weeks without a touchdown pass, including the game he missed on Thursday.
Pickett has thrown just six touchdown passes this year. It has been a struggle. The Steelers have the sixth-worst scoring offense in the league.
Flacco, in just two games, has already thrown five touchdown passes. The Browns have had two of their three best games through the air with the elite veteran quarterback at the helm.
Let’s say that again.
Flacco has thrown five touchdowns in two games. Pickett has thrown six in 11.5.
Yikes.
An almost 40-year-old has a chance to out-play the No. 20 overall pick from a year ago in just three games. Joe Flacco could account for more offensive scoring than Kenny Pickett in a quarter of the time.
If that stat doesn’t put Pittsburgh’s offensive incompetence in perspective, then nothing will. And yet, somehow, the Steelers have six wins. The Browns have eight. Make it make sense!